West Valley edges past FMS teams for rivalry sweep
Devan McIntyre, Farragut Middle School girls basketball head coach, couldn’t have scripted a better start when her team had its annual clash with rival West Valley.
But the WVMS Lady Wolves got a little defensive after falling behind.
“I was really excited when we came out hitting (shots) early, but I knew they would make their run,” McIntyre said after the Lady Admirals dropped a 32-27 decision to West Valley in a Knox County Middle School Conference contest Monday, Nov. 25, in FMS’s Bobby J. Henry Gymnasium.
Farragut (5-1 in conference play) jumped out to a 10-3 lead, but the Lady Wolves (8-0) responded big-time and led 19-10 at the break. Sharon Wilson, an WVMS wing player, scored a game-high 13 points.
“I think we went on a 16-0 run in that second quarter and Sharon was the key on that run,” West Valley head head coach Josh Ballard said. Lindsay Wilson added nine points. Lainey Cox had six and Kendall Anne Murphy finished with four.
Farragut got 10 points from Addison Pressley and seven each from Hannah Enderson and Annie Priest.
Ballard commended the Lady Admirals for their effort.
“I thought Farragut played a really good game,” he said. “When it’s rivalry week, you never know what you’re going to get.
“Farragut played well with their new coach and she has them headed in the right direction.”
West Valley Middle School boys basketball head coach Noel Landrum knew his team faced a tall order against Farragut.
“Farragut is tough to guard. They’re tough to defend because they always seem to have five shooters on the floor at one time,” Landrum said after the Wolves held off the Admirals 37-34 before a packed and spirited house at FMS’s Bobby J. Henry Gymnasium Monday, Nov. 25. “Defense has been our calling card, and tonight I think we defended pretty well.”
While the Wolves started the week 7-1 in Knox County Middle School Basketball Conference play, FHS fell to 4-2.
“Our kids never quit and our effort was there all night,” Farragut head coach Randy Swartzentruber said.
King Hubbard scored 10 points to lead the Wolves. Sam Tummins had six, including a three-point field goal to break a 28-28 tie with 2:18 to play. Drew Parrott and Conner Ruth finished with five each.
Farragut’s Eli Evans had a game-high 11 points and hit three 3-pointers. Tony Spadafora scored nine and Braylon Hall added six for FMS.
